Trupat e Mbrojtjes së Kosovës | |
 Flag of the Kosovo Protection Corps | |
| Predecessor | Kosovo Liberation Army |
|---|---|
| Successor | Kosovo Security Force |
| Established | September 20, 1999 (1999-09-20) |
| Dissolved | June 14, 2009; 16 years ago (2009-06-14) |
| Type | Civilianemergency services |
| Legal status | Defunct |
| Focus | Disaster response,search and rescue,humanitarian assistance,demining,rebuildinginfrastructure and communities |
| Headquarters | Pristina |
| Location |
|
| Budget | US$ 25.4 million (0.79%) |
| Website | Archived website |
TheKosovo Protection Corps (KPC;Albanian:Trupat e Mbrojtjes së Kosovës,TMK) was acivilianemergency services organization inKosovo active from 1999 until 2009.
The KPC was created on 1999, through the promulgation of theUnited Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) Regulation 1999/8 and the agreement of a "Statement of Principles" on the KPC's permitted role in Kosovo.[1][2] In effect, it was a compromise between the disarmament of theKosovo Liberation Army, which was stipulated byUnited Nations Security Council Resolution 1244,[3] and rejected by theKosovo Albanians.
Immediately after the end of theKosovo War in June 1999[4] and the dislocation of NATO forces in Kosovo, emerged the need for the definition of the KLA role in accordance with the new situation.UNSC 1244, approved in June 1999, included KLA demilitarization. Therefore, the same month,KFOR Commander, GeneralMike Jackson andHashim Thaçi, as General Commander of KLA, who at the time was Prime Minister of the Provisional Government in Kosovo, signed theKumanovo Agreement. Upon the completion of the demilitarization process, in 20 September 1999 theUN Special RepresentativeBernard Kouchner signed Regulation no. 1999/8 for the foundation of the Kosovo Protection Corps (KPC), which then was followed by the Declaration of Principles, signed by the KPC Commander and the KFOR Commander. After the formation of the KPC, Serbs claimed it was a new ethnic Albanian army and resigned from the multiethnicKosovo Transitional Council.[5][6] Immediately following the approval of these acts, theInternational Organization for Migration (IOM) initiated the registration campaign of the former KLA fighters, lasting from July to November 1999. According to IOM documents the total registration amounted to 25,723 members.[7] Around 5,000 former KLA fighters joined KPC.[8][9]
UNMIK Regulation 1999/8 assigned the following tasks to the KPC:
The Kosovo Protection Corps had no role indefense,law enforcement,riot control,internal security or any otherlaw and order tasks.[2] TheSpecial Representative of theUN Secretary-General, the head of UNMIK, exercised direction, funding and administrative authority over the KPC. The Commander of KFOR, the NATO peacekeeping force, was in charge of exercising day-to-day supervision of the KPC. The KPC had 5,052 members,[10] and a budget of€17.6 million (US$25.4 million)[11] representing about 0.79% ofGDP.[12]
The KPC's first commander wasAgim Çeku, who resigned from the organization in 2006 to becomePrime Minister of Kosovo.[13] KPC deputy commanderSylejman Selimi, a former KLA leader, replaced Çeku as commander.[14] The KPC was divided into six regional "Protection Zones," each with a regional commander.[15] By 2001, each had an explosive ordnance disposal team, and there was a further centrally controlled team, making a total of seven teams.[16] There have been allegations that KPC was involved in criminal activities, illegal policing, killings and terrorist attacks against Serbs.[17] UNMIK police officers claimed that KPC officers arrested for crimes were released on the orders of top regional KFOR commanders.[9] In June 2001, several senior officers in the KPC were removed for suspicion of aiding theethnic Albanian insurgency in theRepublic of Macedonia.[18]Prime Minister of SerbiaZoran Đinđić, in his last interview beforehis assassination, pointed out the danger to thegeopolitical region of transferring security responsibilities to the KPC.[19] In August 2003,Deputy Prime Minister of SerbiaNebojša Čović accused the KPC and theAlbanian National Army of being behind an attack on Serbs in Kosovo.[20]
Kosovo Albanians considered the KPC a potential nucleus of a future Kosovo army.[21] Finnish politicianMartti Ahtisaari presented hisproposal regarding thefinal status of Kosovo, where he suggested the dissolution of the KPC and the establishment of a lightly armedKosovo Security Force (KSF). Due to a Russian veto, theUnited Nations Security Council did not endorse his proposal. Kosovo declared independence in February 2008. In January 20, 2009, KPC ceased its operations.[22]Kosovo's Assembly passed the 'Law on the Dissolution of the Kosovo Protection Corps' in June.[23] The organization disbanded on June 14.[22] It was succeeded by the KSF.[24]
